Photographing Cows Soon a First Class Felony in Florida

Try saying 'first class felony in Florida' five times really fast.

attribution

Some brilliant state senator wants to ban the photographing of farms. That way those evil folks at PETA can't put up YouTube videos of animal abuse. And he wants to make it a first class felony, no less. People like this senator really ought to have their organs immediately removed and given to someone who could put them to good use.

Simpson, president of Simpson Farms near Dade City, said the law would prevent people from posing as farmworkers so that they can secretly film agricultural operations.

He said he could not name an instance in which that happened. But animal rights groups such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and Animal Freedom display undercover videos on their web sites to make their case that livestock farming and meat consumption are cruel.

Jeff Kerr, general counsel for PETA, said the state should be ashamed that such a bill would be introduced.

"Mr. Norman should be filing bills to throw the doors of animal producers wide open to show the public where their food comes from rather than criminalizing those who would show animal cruelty," he said.

Can we get Mr Kerr a Harumph?

Personally, I'm all for transparency in the food industry, as are most people, I imagine. 

Here's the best part:

Simpson said he doesn't think that "innocent" roadside photography would be prosecuted even if the bill is passed as introduced.

"Farmers are a common-sense people," he said. "A tourist who stops and takes a picture of cows -- I would not imagine any farmer in the state of Florida that cares about that at all."

That's a great idea, Norm. In fact, why don't we just make EVERYTHING illegal, but only lock up the people who violate someone else's common sense? Wait, I think Pol Pot (and countless others) already tried that.

It reminds me of the people who are adamant believers in free speech, you know, as long as it's not offensive.

Logic, what's that all about?

On a side note, Frank Herbert/David Lynch fans shouldn't miss this Dune: The Movie coloring book. "Mommy, what color do I use for dead people?"